HANNspree Ten Kate Honda's World Supersport riders secured places on the
provisional front row for round seven of championship at Silverstone
today. Kenan Sofuoglu completed the 45-minute first qualifying session
with the fastest time, with team-mate Sebastien Charpentier not far
behind in second position.

The predicted rain stayed at bay for the morning free
practice and the majority of the afternoon qualifying session. Sofuoglu
continued his stunning form by setting the fastest lap a total of eight
times throughout the sessions. He finished the day by smashing the existing
best Silverstone Supersport lap with a blistering time of 1'27.937 - almost
second faster than the 2006 best lap time.

Charpentier was also on top form today, proving once again that he is
back to full fitness. The Frenchman set his best time within two laps of
the 3.561km circuit and was on line to improve this even further when a
small mistake forced him off the CBR600RR. He re-joined the session
uninjured and finished with a final best time of 1'28.178 - within two
tenths of a second of his team-mate.

With rain forecast for tomorrow's second session, it is possible that
today's times could dictate the grid line-up for Sunday's race, meaning
that HANNspree Ten Kate Honda would fill the top two positions for the
second consecutive round.

Ronald ten Kate, Team Manager:

"Today has been a very good start to the weekend with the riders first
and second on the timesheets. With rain forecast for tomorrow, it was
very important for us to be at the top in what could be the only dry
qualifying we have this weekend. For Kenan is already three seconds
faster than his fastest lap time from last year, so that's very, very
impressive. He was a bit worried coming to Silverstone because last year
his results were not so good but this year is really a new year for him
so big compliments to him for the improvement.

"We have changed quite a bit on Sebastien's bike and it just getting
better and better for him. It was a pity to see him crash out when he was
on a real fast lap, but anyway he is back on track and his confidence is
coming back so let' see what happens tomorrow. We couldn't have had a
better start to the weekend."

Sebastien Charpentier:

"We are now very close to the perfect set-up for my riding style.
Everybody in the team has worked so hard for this and they really
understand my needs more than before. I think now I have found a good
direction and I am pushing more and more to find my limit in the front. I
hope the weather is nice tomorrow so I can push for the front position. I
want to get the pole and I want to make the best set-up possible for my
bike for the race. It is not easy now though - it's not easy for anybody
in these conditions - but I am a lot happier than before, that's for
sure."

Kenan Sofuoglu:

"I was really nervous in the build-up to Silverstone because last year I
had a really bad result, I was 20th in the race. There was really a big
question mark over how I was going to do here - I just had no idea.
Already I am three seconds faster than last year so it's going really
well. However, we still have to work very hard because tomorrow we don't
know if it will be dry or wet. I want to keep the good lap time to stay
in the front row but I also want to work on my race distance. We will not
make a plan for tomorrow until the morning when we see what the weather
is like."